Recruiters vs. Candidates: A Game of Hide and Seek with No Rulebook ????

After six years in recruitment, headhunting, and talent acquisition across IT, General Insurance, E-commerce, Financial Services, and Semiconductors, I’ve come to realize that hiring isn’t just about matching resumes to job descriptions—it’s a mix of detective work, sales, therapy, and sometimes, sheer luck.

I’ve seen it all—ghosting, candidates who magically become "experts" overnight, hiring managers chasing mythical unicorns, and job descriptions that read like they were written by a sci-fi author. Yet, somehow, it’s these very challenges that make recruitment both frustrating and exciting.

So, let’s break down some fun (and painfully true) realities of the hiring world.

1. The "Ghosting" Olympics ????

Recruiters often joke about candidates disappearing after interviews. But guess what? 76% of job seekers say they’ve been ghosted by recruiters too! It's a high-stakes game of "Will they reply?" where both sides are guilty, and no one really wins.

2. Resume vs. Reality ????

A whopping 30% of candidates admit to "enhancing" their resumes—because who hasn’t suddenly become "proficient in Python" overnight? Meanwhile, recruiters wish they could list "mind reader" as a core skill. The result? A never-ending cat-and-mouse game of figuring out what’s real and what’s just creative storytelling.

3. The 6-Second Verdict ???

Candidates spend 3-4 hours perfecting their resumes, but recruiters? We scan them in 6-8 seconds before deciding if they’re worth a callback. That’s less time than it takes to microwave coffee.

Fair? Probably not. Necessary? Absolutely.

4. Job Descriptions: Works of Fiction ????

"Looking for a 22-year-old with 10 years of experience, an MBA from Harvard, fluent in five languages, and willing to work weekends—for ‘exposure.’”

Sure, let me just grab my time machine and find that person. ??

Recruiters don’t just find talent—we spend half our time convincing hiring managers that their "ideal candidate" does not, in fact, exist.

5. The Headhunter’s Paradox ????

The more "passive" a candidate is, the more desirable they become. But the moment they actively start job hunting? Suddenly, hiring managers aren’t as interested.

It’s the classic case of we only want what we can’t have.

6. The Counteroffer Trap ????

Half of the candidates who accept counteroffers end up leaving within six months anyway. It’s like breaking up, getting back together, and realizing… nope, still a bad idea.

Lesson? If your company only values you when you’re about to leave, they should have valued you all along.

7. The Unicorn Candidate Myth ??

Hiring managers want someone who: ? Has the perfect skills ? Is available immediately ? Will accept a "competitive salary" (aka underpaid)

Reality? Finding Bigfoot might be easier.

8. AI Hiring Gone Wrong ????

AI recruitment tools were supposed to make hiring smarter. Instead, they sometimes reject resumes for silly reasons like formatting issues or missing one keyword (which was actually on page two).

At this rate, by 2030, AI might reject candidates for using the wrong font.

9. The Pajama Problem ??+??

With remote interviews, recruiters have learned that "I’m having camera issues" usually means:

a) Still in pajamas b) Forgot to clean the background c) Both a & b

The real test? Not standing up mid-call. ??

10. The Urgency Paradox ?????

Hiring Manager: "We need to fill this role ASAP!" Recruiter: "Great, here are three solid candidates!" Hiring Manager: "Let’s wait and see who else applies."

Six months later… "Why did the candidate take another offer?" ??

Why We Keep Doing This

For all the ghosting, unrealistic expectations, and hiring paradoxes, there’s always that one perfect hire that makes it all worth it. Seeing a candidate land a dream job or a company find the right fit reminds us why we love what we do.

Recruitment is chaotic, unpredictable, and sometimes downright hilarious. But one thing’s for sure—we’re never bored.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to follow up with a candidate who just stopped replying after saying "Excited to move forward!" last week. ????